MARK WAITE / PVT Attendees at a two day workshop on off-road use in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, listen to facilitator Tom Crimmins at the Mountain Falls Golf Club. Advertisement

An estimated 2,320 all-terrain vehicles are sold every day in America, Tom Crimmins, told about 70 people at a workshop on off-road vehicle use in the Spring Mountains last Friday.

Crimmins led the discussion that attempted to bring together U.S. Forest Service officials and off-road vehicle users.

Off-highway vehicle sales increased 25 percent in the last five years and 195 percent in the last 10, Crimmins said.

While no one disputed the rising popularity of ATVs -- including dual sport motorcycles, four-wheel drives, utility-type vehicles and snowmobiles -- two different solutions were offered to dealing with the increased use of the national forest.

"The biggest threat to OHVs on public land is irresponsible use," said co-moderator Gene Zimmerman, a former Forest Service ranger and now a member of the off-highway vehicle conservation council. He said the threat isn't from the environmentalists.

Zimmerman urged attendees to join groups of off-road users in raising awareness of the irresponsible impacts of off-road recreation.

That wasn't the same attitude portrayed by Gary Clinard of Las Vegas, founder of the Dunes and Trails RV Club.

Clinard said when there's more airport traffic, the government builds more runways. When there's more motor vehicles they build more roads. But while there's more off-road use, the government wants to close more access.

"Make sure we have more facilities, not less," he said.

Kevin Mayer, co-owner of Parker's motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle shop in Pahrump, echoed Clinard's comments.

"Motor sports happens to be the fastest growing sport in America. But yet we want to close off areas," Mayer said.

But Claire Toomey, a Pahrump endurance horseback rider, said some off-road vehicle riders don't understand the impact of different user groups in the national forest.

Gary Eshelby, of Pahrump, questioned why the Forest Service had to implement a management rule in 2003 governing off-road use.

"Nothing has been broke in the past, why try to fix it now?" Eshelby asked. "The forest service is contemplating shutting down trails open since the 1800s."

A former Oregon resident, Eshelby said he remembers when the Forest Service shut down "hundreds of miles of trails" in the Pacific Northwest. He doesn't want to see that happen here.

Erick Walker, a U.S. Forest Service recreational planner, said a map of authorized off-road routes in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area has already been prepared. But he said the maps will be updated.

"I want to start today working with you," Walker said. "We're going to learn a lot of stuff today how we can all work together. We can meet one another. We're going to make contacts. We'll know on a first-name basis how to communicate with one another."

There was still confusion over what is open to off-road vehicles in the national forest.

Al Bass, president of a new group called the Pahrump Valley Four Wheelers, said he's been kicked out of areas where there's no description.

"If it's not known to the public you can't enforce it," Bass said.

Suzanne Shelp, Forest Service trail program manager, said the goal is to mark all open roads. But Walker said the service's budget is declining and they need volunteer help identifying and maintaining roads.

Walker said there are wilderness areas in the Spring Mountains that are off limits to motorized vehicles, but there are nonetheless roads still leading into them. Off-road maps are available at the U.S. Forest Service office in Las Vegas and at the Kyle Canyon campgrounds, but there are plans to have a kiosk as well at the entrances to the forest.

The workshop was originally convened at the suggestion of consultants for Price Waterhouse Cooper, who are studying the financial impacts of the west side recreation plan for the Spring Mountains. They want to know the cost of building improvements like picnic areas and campsites. Consultants urged the Forest Service to look at off-road users.

Crimmins outlined some of that impact. He said the median income of off-highway motorcycle riders is $55,000 annually. That rises to a $79,000 annual median income for four-wheel drive enthusiasts.

"All of them have money and will travel," he said.

Over half will drive more than 200 miles to a destination, though Crimmins said the rising cost of gas means they may stay longer and make fewer weekend trips.

A study Crimmins did for Colorado showed off-highway vehicle recreation brought in $215 million to the state. The popular Paiute off-road trail near Moab, Utah, brought in $20 million per year to local economies, he said.

"All this allows people to reconnect with public lands," Crimmins said. "There's a lot of places where you have entire generations who have no connections with the public lands, no connection with the resource."

Crimmins suggested Nevada implement a sticker fee for off-road vehicles as is used in other states. He said California recently passed a law designating half the revenue from those fees into trail maintenance and construction.

Forest service officials and off-road users can come to agreements, Crimmins said. He pointed to East Point Rock near Bend, Ore.

Mayer said he attended out of an obligation to his customers at his Pahrump repair shop. He has the latest updated maps of Forest Service off-road trails.

"We're here to see if we can help or do anything to help, but on that same level, we hope we're not wasting our time, I mean, if we're doing whatever they want," Mayer said.

"From what I understand this is the first intervention or communication with people that actually use the land. Previously the U.S. Forest Service said we're doing this and we're done," he said.

The workshop was sponsored by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council, based in Great Falls, Mont.